Media

Larry Downes writes for a variety of publications and is a frequent source for stories on innovation, strategy and law. Recent publications include:

“Talk at Microsoft Research”, Microsoft Research, Feb. 28, 2010. Larry’s talk at Microsoft Research is now available.
“NHPR: Word of Mouth”, New Hampshire Public Radio, Feb. 1, 2010. Larry spoke with Word of Mouth’s Virginia Prescott about the failing relationship between innovation and the legal system.
“First Friday Book Synopsis”, Robert Morris, Jan. 28, 2010. An excerpt from Larry’s interview with Robert Morris, business book review extraordinaire.
“At stake in broadband push: Wireless Spectrum”, CNET News.com, Jan. 22, 2010. In a final article based on material from CES, Larry writes about a looming crisis in broadband spectrum, and plans by the government to consider a wide range of solutions to free up allocated bandwidths as well as make better use of existing allocations. But no one will give up their spectrum without a fight.
“New year, new policy push for universal broadband”, CNET News.com, Jan. 21, 2010. More from CES. Larry reports on the new push for universal broadband access, sure to be a major feature of the forthcoming National Broadband Plan, due out in March.
“Authors @ Google: Larry Downes”, Google, Mountain View, Jan. 12, 2010. Larry’s talk at Google headquarters on “The Laws of Disruption” is available on YouTube.
“Stanford Fellow Says White House Retreating on Net Neutrality”, NextGenWeb, Jan. 9, 2010. One of several interviews Larry gave at CES regarding his Net Neutrality post on CNET during the conference.
“Why the White House is Backing Away from Net Neutrality”, CNET News.com, Jan. 8, 2010. Larry’s provocative post from the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show. noting a changing tone from White House and FCC officials on the commitment to strong net neutrality regulation, was widely reported, including by CBS News, The National Review, and The Daily Kos.
“Seattle Town Hall: Catching up With Technology”, Seattle Channel, Jan. 5, 2010. Larry spoke at Seattle’s historic Town Hall, introducing “The Laws of Disruption” and fielding a wide range of questions from the audience. The complete program is available from the Seattle Channel.
2009
“The Winter of Our Content,” The Hill, December 21, 2009. Larry’s op-ed on the paranoia surrounding Comcast’s acquistion of NBC Universal drew from themes in “The Laws of Disruption.”
“FTC’s new Strategy: Kick ‘Em When They’re Down,”, CNET News.com,December 17, 2009. Larry’s perspective piece on the FTC’s decision to charge Intel with anti-competitive practices questioned the timing and motivation of the agency.
“Note to Silicon Valley: How not to Manage Privacy,”, CNET News.com,December 11, 2009. Larry reviews recent problems in privacy policy, from Google to Facebook.
“Government is holding back Telecom Innovation,” IT & Telecom News, December, 2009. Larry and IT&Telecom News editor James G. Lakely talk about The Law of Disruption, Net Neutrality, and the problems of infrastructure regulation.
“The Laws of Disruption” (audio podcast), Perseus Books Audio Podcast,December, 2009. Larry talks with Perseus Books’ Wesley Weisberg about “The Laws of Disruption” and the main themes of the book.
“The 10 Most Important Info-Tech Policy Books of 2009,” Technology Liberation Front, December, 2009. The Progress and Freedom Foundation’s Adam Thierer named “The Laws of Disruption” his favorite policy book of 2009.
“The Best IT-Business Books of 2009,” CIO Insight, December, 2009. The Laws of Disruption was named one of the best IT-Business Books of 2009.
“Two Cheers for Google Books,” CNET, November 16, 2009. Larry’s support for the Google Books Settlement following its revision highlights the real source of objections to the original: the out-of-control copyright system. The settlement would bring back to life millions of out-of-print books, but that forest is getting lost in the trees of a variety of interested third parties with competitive, regulatory, or just plain loopy axes to grind.
“Can You Patent a Cat and a Laser Pointer?” The Big Money from Slate.com, Nov. 9, 2009. Larry’s article on the U.S. Supreme Court’s critical 2009 patent case, Bilski v. Kappos, explained why a challenge to business method patents was really one that asked the fundamental questions about patents for all kinds of information age inventions, especially software. Larry’s advice to the Justices: eliminate patent protection for inventions that don’t need it.
Hearsay Culture (Stanford Radio) Larry Downes was the guest on this radio program focused on issues of law and technology in November, 2009.
“Information Age: Will The Internet Survive its 40th?” The Wall Street Journal, Nov. 1, 2009. R. Gordon Crovitz’s column on Net Neutrality quotes extensively from Larry and from “The Laws of Disruption.” “The mistake regulators and those who enable them continue to make is trying to micromanage individual technologies or applications,” Mr. Downes writes. “The bottom line is simple. Encouraging infrastructure is good; micromanaging it is bad.”
Tech Nation, November, 2009.Larry was the guest on NPR’s “Tech Nation” with Moira Gunn. Listen to a podcast here.
The Case Against the FCC’s Net Neutrality Plan. CNET News.com, Oct. 29, 2009. Larry’s provocative and much-cited editorial dismissing the FCC’s long-awaited Net Neutrality proposed rulemaking received almost 400 Diggs and over 150 Tweets.
“Tense Times for Web Phone Apps” eWeek, Oct. 4, 2009. Larry’s blog on Net Neutrality was quoted in this article by Clint Boulton on AT&T’s objections to Google Phone’s non-carrier behavior. “In that issue, I’ve already written that I don’t think Google Voice should get a free pass, and it turns out I’m not the only one who feels this way. Larry Downes, a fellow at the Stanford Law School Center of Internet and Society, wrote in his blog: ‘There’s a simple solution to all this, one that might make a rational conversation about net neutrality possible. And that is to eliminate the distinction between common carriers and everyone else. Hold everyone to the same rules regardless of what information they are transporting–whether voice, video, television, data. Because regardless of who’s doing what, these days it’s all bits.’”
October 2009 – Introducing “The Laws of Disruption” video. To watch an extended play version, click here.
“AT&T Slams Google Voice” The Washington Post, Sept. 30, 2009. The Post’s “Post I.T.” column on the Net Neutrality debate quotes from Larry’s blog. “‘Much as the FCC wishes there was still a clear distinction between ‘the Internet’ and ‘the telephone network,’ technology has obliterated that difference,’ Larry Downes, a non-resident fellow at the Stanford Law School Center of Internet and Society, wrote in his blog Tuesday.”
“The Next New—Potentially Illegal—Thing,” Inc. Magazine, May, 2009 – Larry Downes’s interview with Inc.’s Leigh Buchanan warns innovators to avoid the increasing legal pitfalls of new technology introductions.
“When Collaboration and the Law Collide,” Inc. Magazine, May, 2009 – Part Two of Larry Downes’s interview with Inc.’s Leigh Buchanan deals with legal dilemmas associated with social media.
2008
“The Legal Jungle” Columns, CIO Insight, 2005-2008 – Many of the examples and cases from “The Laws of Disruption” were first discussed in columns Larry Downes wrote for CIO Insight.
2007
“Preserve Internet Freedom…From Regulation,” CNet News.com, December 12, 2007 – Larry Downes takes an unpopular position on Net Neutrality, arguing that the cost of government interference with Internet access provisioning is almost certainly higher than the benefits.
2005
“The Commerce Clause Wakes Up,” Harvard Business Review, September, 2005 – Larry Downes reviews a 2005 Supreme Court that tested the limits of state law interference with Internet commerce.
2004
“First, Empower all the Lawyers,” Harvard Business Review, December, 2004 – Larry Downes argues that corporate legal departments are broken.  The digital age requires lawyers who are technology-savvy and active participants in corporate strategy.
2003
“Give Spammers More Information, Not Less,” USA Today, June 24, 2003 – Larry Downes’s controversial “solution” to the Spam problem.
“Unleashing Killer Architectures,” CIO, June 15, 2003 – Larry Downes describes the next-generation computing architecture and its promise for new profitability across industries.
“Dell business model turns to muscle as rivals struggle,” USA Today, January 19, 2003 – Larry Downes on the difference between a mission and a mission statement.
2002
“Free the Mouse for creativity’s sake,” USA Today, October 8, 2002 – Larry Downes’ op-ed on intellectual property and the Supreme Court.
“Size is Not a Strategy,” FastCompany, September, 2002 – This cover story on new approaches to strategy describes Larry Downes as one of “the business world’s smartest thinkers.”
“Making the Tech Slump Pay Off,” Business Week, June 24, 2002 – Larry Downes on the need to continue investing in innovation, especially during economic downturns.